Tie-plate.



E. H. BELL.

TIE PLATE. I APPLICATION FILED OCT- 9. I9I6.

1,21 9,224. Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

mr/vmses: 5 a 7 UNITED STATES PATENT oF IoE.

EDWIN H. BELL, or CHICAGO, .nnrivors.

TIE-PLATE.

' ence being had to the accompanying drawtion.

ings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specifica- This invention relates to an improvement in tie plates and consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in .the appended claims. The object of the invention is to produce a tie plate which shall combine with a maximum of efliciency in the performance of its intended function, a minimum of metal and a maximum of rigidity againstbuckling, so that-it will withstand the bending strain to which it is subjected.

These and other advantages of my improved tie plate will appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tie plate made in accordance with my invention.

" Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the tie plate.

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating a longitudinal section through the tie plate, in a plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view illustrating a transverse,- section through the tie plate,-1n a plane indicated by the dine 4-4 of Fig.1.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of my invention illustrated in the ac- I companying drawings, 5 indicates the tie plate as a whole, which, as shown, is oblong in plan as usual. The plate has a flat bearing face 6 on its top side, which is ada ted for engagement with and is OfSllbStilIltlfillY the width of the bottom side of the rail base. At one end of the bearing face 6 is provided the usual transversely extending, railabutting flange or shoulder 8. The top side of the plate at its ends and beyond the railabutting flange or shoulder 8 and beyond the opposite end of the bearing face 6 is preferably inclined or tapered downwardly toward the ends of the plate.

On the bottom surface of the tie plate are provided transverse, tie-engaging flanges or Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar. 13, .1917.

Application filed October 9 1916. Serial No. 124,503.-

ribs 9, 9, preferably two as shown. Said ribs thus extend parallel to the rail-abutting shoulder 8 onthe top face-of the tie plate and one of them is preferably located immediately below the rail-abutting shoulder 8, while the other is spaced from it a distance substantially equal to the width of the rail base.-

In that part of the bottom surface of the tie plate between the transverse ribs .9, 9, there are formed a plurality of parallel, arc'uate undulations, grooves or depressions 10, which extend parallelto the length ofthe tie plate (that is, to say, at right angles to the tie engaging ribs 8,- 8) and. which are comparatively flat or shallow. The arcuate surfaces of the several grooves intersect in a plurality of parallel lines in the plane of the bottom of the tie plate, thuspresenting a plurality of parallel ribs 11 extending parallel to the length of the plate and at right angles to the rail abutting shoulder.

The bottom of the end parts of the plate beyond the ribs 9, is flat and is adapted to rest on the top surface of the .tie. The tie plate thus described .ismanifestly one that it is easy to manufacture in that it is capable of bein readil rolled from a billet. Having a at top. caring face for engagement with the rail base, without grooves or depressions, it is apparent that water will not collect and stand between the rail base and the plate so as to-rust and thus gradually destroy. and disintegrate the top.

of the plate.

The undulations or grooves 10 below the rail engaging surface of the plate, diminish the weightof the 1plate without destroying its strength and t is particularly, because said undulations or grooves are arranged transversely of the plate or at right angles ,to the line in which the plate tends to buckle tending parallel to the fibers of the wood of.

the tie, will embed themselves between said fib r rs and will act to prevent the plate from of mg ed,

om neot- Lbs,

the unthe of creeping in the direction of the rail, without damaging or distorting the fibers of the wood. The tie engaging ribs 9, 9 and the other ribs 11, will together produce a seat for the tie plate in the .top surface of the tie which will prevent movement of the tie plate on the tie either in the direction of the length of the'rail or in a direction transverse thereto and will assist in holding the rail to gage.

I claim as my invention:

1. A- tie plate having a flat, rail-bearing face and a bottom, tie=engaging surface, said tie-engaging surface including two longitudinally spaced tie-engaging ribs extending transversely of said plate and projecting. be-

low its bottom surface and the bottom surface of said plate between said ribs, being formed to provide a 'lurality of parallel, flattened, arcuate undu atlons or grooves extending in the direction of the len h of rection of the length of said tie plate andlo- I cated in the plane of the bottom surface thereof. Q

2. A tie plate having a flat, top, rail-bearing face anda bottom, tie-en aging surfa said tie plate being provide with a tra verse, rail-abutting shoulder at one end said rail-bearing face, and said tie-engagi surface including two longitudinally spac tie-engaging ribs extending transversely said plate and projecting below its bott surface, one of said ribs being located low said rail abutting shoulder, and a b tom surface of said plate between said ri being formed to provide a plurality parallel, flattened, arcuate undulations grooves extending in the direction of length of said plate, the surfaces of said 1 dula-tions or grooves intersecting in lines present a plurality of tie-engaging ribs the bottom surface of ,said plate extendi in thedirection of its length.

Entestimony that I claim the foregoi as my invention I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses, this 5th day October, A. D. 1916.

EDWIN H. BELL Witnesses:

T. H. ALFREns, KARL Donn.- 

